Visualizing the spin of individual molecules

TL;DR

This paper uses low-temperature spin-polarized scanning tunneling microscopy to visualize and analyze the spin states of individual molecules, revealing molecular spin orientations and their origins.

Contribution

It introduces a novel application of spin-polarized STM to directly observe and spatially resolve spin states in single molecules, supported by density functional calculations.

Findings

Identification of spin-polarized electronic resonance over the molecule center

Spatial resolution of stationary spin states corresponding to different molecular orientations

Evidence of ferromagnetic superexchange interaction mediated by organic ligands

Abstract

Low-temperature spin-polarized scanning tunneling microscopy is employed to study spin transport across single Cobalt-Phathalocyanine molecules adsorbed on well characterized magnetic nanoleads. A spin-polarized electronic resonance is identified over the center of the molecule and exploited to spatially resolve stationary spin states. These states reflect two molecular spin orientations and, as established by density functional calculations, originate from a ferromagnetic molecule-lead superexchange interaction mediated by the organic ligands.